Envelope moistener



Patented Mer. 2s, 19'47 2,418,035

UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE ENVELOPE MOISTENEB Henri Lachapelle, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application November 2, 1944, Serial No. 561,576 In Canada November 25, 1943 Y 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-133) l The present invention pertains to a novel dean outward flange Il slidably engaging the vice for moistening glued surfaces such as ensleeve 8. velope ilaps, postage stamps and the like. The A resilient sponge I2 is contained in the sleeve principal object is to provide a, simple and in- 8, between the bottom piece 5 and the flange expensive device of this character constructed of 5 9, when the device is expanded as in Figure 2. easily fabricated parts and positive in its oper- In the same condition, a similar sponge I3 is allencontained in the plunger I0.

The device includes a receptacle for water with The plunger has a bottom piece I4 with an a sponge-filled sleeve at one end. This end has a outlet cut therethrough, preferably in the form bottom closure with a small port therethrough 10 of crossed slots I5 as shown in Figure 4.' Where to fill the sponge. In the sleeve is slidably guided the slots intersect, the corners of metal are turned a hollow plunger also containing a sponge, or a inward, as at i6, in order to avoid scratching single sponge may suillce for both parts. The the surface over which the member I4 is moved. outer end of the plunger is also closed, except The container I is lled with water on removfor a limited water outlet. The latter is pref- 15 ing the cap 3. When not in use, the resiliency erably in the form of intersecting slots, and the of the sponges expands the device to the position corners formed by the intersection are bent inshown in Figure 2. Only a limited quantity of ward in order not to scratch the surface over water flows through the port 6 to Sponges, owing which the device is moved. to the limited venting through the Sponges. This The Sponges are resilient and project4 the 20 quantity of water is. at most, sulcient to fill the plunger outwardly when the device is not in use. Sponges, whereupon venting ceases.

The sponges become lled with water from the Moisture is expelled upon an adhesive surface receptacle, and the seepage then ceases, due to' I1 by pressing the bottom I4 of the plunger Ill the obstruction of the venting through the thereupon. The retraction of the plunger comsponges. When the slotted end of the plunger g5 presses the sponges, as shown in Figure 3, and is laid on the surface to be moistened, a slight the path of least resistance for the displaced pressure is exerted upon it, thereby compressing water is through the slots I5. When the device the sponge or Sponges to discharge water through is lifted from the surface I1, the parts return to the outlet slots. the position shown in Figure 2.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of ex- 80 Although aspecic embodiment of the invenample in the following description and in the tion has been illustrated and described it will be accompanying drawing in which: understood that various alterations in the details Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the deof construction may be made without departing vice in use: from the scope of the invention as indicated by Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof in 35 the appended claims. idle position; What I claim as my invention is:

Figure 3 is a similar section oi the device com- 1. An envelope moistener comprising :a recep- PleSSedin 118e. and tacle having a closed bottom with a port there- Figureisabettom end View. through, a guide sleeve detachably mounted on Referenee t0 these VeWS Will 110W be mede 40 said receptacle and extending beyond said botby Se 0f like Characters which are empleyed t0- tom, a. hollow plunger slidably mounted in said designate corresponding parts threusheut. sleeve, said plunger having an unrestricted inner The device is shown as including a Cylindrical end and a closed outer end with intersecting slots Container l having a threaded Open upper end 2 therethrough, resilient sponge material between normally Closed by a eel) 3 Sel'eWed thereon The 45 said bottom and said closed outer end, and means cap is preferably lined with e washer I edepted for umitmg the withdrawal ef said pnmger from to bear upon the upper extremity oi the container said s1eeve l. as in Figure 2. The lower end 0f the e011- 2. An envelope moistener comprising la recep tainer has a bottom closure 5 formed with a tacle having a closed bottom with a port therecentral aperture 5- This end is also threaded at 50 through. a guide sleeve mounted on said recep- 1 for a purpose that will presently be describedtacle and extendingbeyond said bottom, a hollow On the threaded end 'I is screwed a guide sleeve phmgef -.-Jldahly mount-ed in Said Sheva, said 8 having an inward flange 9 at its lower end. A plunger having a closed outer end with intertubular plunger i0 is slidably mounted within secting slots therethrough, resilient sponge matethe flange 8 and is formed at its upper end with 55 rial between said bottom and said closed outer 3 end, said bottom being bent inward at the corners formed by the intersection of said slots, and

ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ritz Feb. 15. 1916 Carver Feb. 9, 1897 Heglund Sept. 9, 1919 Pfeifer Mar. 25, 1902 Gustafson Feb. 4, 1890 

